EUGENE
WALESKIEWICZ was born in 1903 to Albert and Mary Waleskiewicz in New
York. Shortly after his birth, the Waleskiewicz family moved to New
Jersey, where daughter Freda was born, and by 1920 lived at 1243 Everett
Street in the Whitman part section of Camden. Albert Waleskiewicz was
then working as a riveter in one of Camden's shipyards. Eugene
Waleskiewicz graduated from Camden High School in the early 1920s, and
went on to college and law school. The Waleskiewicz family was
still living on Everett
Street at the time of the April 1930 Census.

By
February of 1933 Eugene Waleskiewicz was practicing law in Camden. He was also the
president of the South Camden Civic Association, and active in
Democratic politics in the city of Camden. In the bitterly fought 1934
primary, he supported Edward
J. Kelleher in his bid to wrest control of the county organization
from Emma Hyland and Harry
Maloney. Eugene Waleskiewicz later shortened his name to Eugene Wales.

The
1947 Camden City Directory shows that he had married, and lived with his
wife Stella at the 1243 Everett
Street address. Still active in politics
as a Democrat, he was then the Deputy Register of Wills for Camden
County. Eugene Wales served on the Board of Education during the 1950s. He
still resided on Everett
Street as late as 1959.

Eugene
Wales spent his last years residing in University Place, Pierce County,
Washington. He died on May 5, 1994 at the age of 91.

Camden
High School Yearbook Entry

Camden
Courier-Post - February 10, 1933

CITY
ADOPTS CUT BUDGET AFTER CLASHSlash of $702,890 Is
Revealed in Totals Passed at Session of Rulers

LEASE ANNOUNCED OF
RADIO STATION

Commissioners Debate With Von Nieda as He Charges Gross Extravagance

By
WALT BATEZEL

The
Camden City Commission yesterday approved the 1933 city budget after
hearing and rejecting economy recommendations of several civic and labor
organizations.

Eight
speakers representing five organizations urged budget reductions and
protested the total of $3,353,124.60. Verbal clashes over opinions were
frequent between Commissioner Harold W. Bennett, director of finance and
revenue, and former Councilman Frederick von Nieda and Thomas B. Hall,
representatives of the Congress of Civic Associations of New Jersey.

Nearly
300 persons attended the hearing, in marked contrast to the 5000 who
marched on city hall last year to demand budget reductions. The hearing
lasted three hours. The departmental budget appropriations of
$3,353,124.60 with the local school appropriation of $1,250,000 and other
appropriations, totaling $960,060.55 to be added in the tax ordinance yet
to be adopted, will give the city a total expense of $5,563,185.15 for
1933.

Tax
Bill About Same

The
tax rate will not be known until the tax ordinance is adopted. After the
hearing Commissioner Bennett declared that due to equalization of
assessments, the bills of some taxpayers will be a few dollars higher than
last year, and a few dollars lower in other cases. The commission, after
approving the budget on a motion by Commissioner Bennett, adopted a
resolution leasing
WCAM to the Broadcast Advertising Company for $1000 per year and a
percentage of all receipts over $24,000. All maintenance costs will be
born by the company, of which Rudolph Preisendanz, Jr., is head.

After
the budget was adopted Bennett declared the City Commission would take
into consideration an allegation of Frank J. Hartmann,
Jr., secretary
of the Civic Congress, that the $125,400 appropriation for street lighting was $26,450 higher than it should be
according to figures obtained by him concerning the city's .lighting
equipment. "If there has been an error the budget can be amended at
any time,"
Commissioner Bennett said.

Commissioner
Clay W. Reesman, under whose department street lighting comes,
declared that figures in his office concerning street lighting were
different from those quoted by Hartmann. The figures he used,
Hartmann
said, were obtained by him from City Comptroller Sidney P. McCord.

Von Nieda was the first citizen to
address the commission. Shifting papers in
his hands, he faced the commissioners and said: "We
have here $40,000 for your Recorder's Court in 1932, and $25,000 for
1933."

Commissioner
Bennett jumped to his feet.

"Those
1932 figures," Bennett said, "were merely an estimate of the
receipts to be taken in, but that amount did not come in. This year we
anticipate only $25,000, which we consider a fair estimate."

"That's
fine" said von Nieda, "but we have never had a chance to sit in
with you on these figures."

"You
can sit in with us at any time," responded Bennett, "We're glad
to have you."

"I
see here," said von Nieda, "that the transportation inspector is
paid from fees, but you show no fees and the inspector should be paid by
the Public Service. I also suggest that you turn Convention Hall over to
the poor. Now in dealing with Station WCAM, I see you show a profit for
the last three months of $1000, while in 1932, you show no records of
receipts, and we are just wondering.'.

Worried
by WCAM

"Do
you want that answered now?" asked Bennett. "WCAM has given
myself and the other commissioners some concern during the past year. It
is our duty to see that we receive as much income as possible. Different
methods have been used in the radio station to make it pay during the past
three months, and during this time that station has been in the black. We
figure that in 1933 there will be no deficit in this station, and we look
for a profit of more than $1000."

"I'll
tell you," said Reesman, "about my deputy director Carlton Harris.
My deputy receives $1750 a year. He has charge of all labor in the
Department of Parks and Public Property. He is on the job every
morning at 7:00 AM, and often works until 10 p. m., with the labor outside."

"In
speaking of the assessors," von Nieda continued, "we
should have assessors who are not influenced by politicians or political
dictators."

"You
know I won't stand for that," answered Bennett. "The
readjustment of ratables is only a small part 1 of the work we are doing.
Each property is assessed on a basic principal. Any
time you have a suggestion that will help us in our work we will
be glad to hear from you but I firmly believe that real state must be
relieved of its heavy tax burden by an income and sales tax, and this tax
must come sooner or later.

Seeking Relief

"As
far as the city commissioners are concerned, we are studying it from day
to day, in efforts to get out of the wilderness.

"In
speaking of the purchasing department," von Nieda continued, "we
know what happened there last year. You fired your purchasing agent, and
if you had not fired him it probably would have afforded the public some
interesting reading about this purchasing department.

"All
of my men are working overtime,' replied Bennett. "It is true the
purchasing agent is out and his work is being done by an assistant (William
Dilmore) at half his salary. We have got rid of as many people in
these departments as we can. I had to let one girl go in the purchasing
department and one girl in Controller McCord's department. One man went on
pension in the tax office and two were let out in efforts to balance the
budget.

"In
.one of my departments where there were three girls I had, to make a $900
cut by leaving one girl out. called the three girls into my office and
told them that one had to go and asked them what their home
responsibilities were. One had to take care of her family, including a
77-year-old aunt; another a family with a 66-year-old aunt, and the third
was supporting three or four brothers with the help of another brother,
who is a barber working for practically what tips he could get.

"But
I had to make a $900 cut. The girls asked me not to dismiss any of them,
as they each would take a $300 cut in addition to cuts .already applied.
Another man took an extra $260 cut so that he would not be out of work.
But I had the budget to take care of, and I am ready to challenge any city
the size of Camden to show so nearly a balanced budget. Our plan is to pay
as we go."

"You
cite two or three instances," protested
von Nieda. "But I want
to show you scores of families which have no money and they are taxpayers.
You say you have cut to the bone, but you should cut through the bone.
This is no grandstand play by us. Maybe we can give you some help. Then,
too, the debt interest must be paid on this tragedy," he shouted,
pointing to walls of the commission chamber.

"Maybe
you can tell me how to get rid of the bonds," suggested Bennett.
"You must remember this year we have cut $900,000 from the
budget."

Offers
Recommendation

Von Nieda said the Civic Congress recommended that work now being done by two
city solicitors should be done by one, that when more policemen and
firemen are needed "little fellows” be restored first wherever
possible; that the city incinerating plant be closed; that the personnel
of the city's two' sewage disposal plants be reduced; that the city's
lighting bill be cut $40,000; that inspectors of lighting be abolished and
their work done by policemen and the city's engineer's department.
Personally he favored an income tax, he said, to relieve the I burden on
real estate.

"1
realize,” von Nieda said, "that the city commission has done a fair
job, but of the congress, with conservatively 15,000 members, think you
can do even better.

Commissioner
Frank B. Hanna, director of public works, interrupted von Nieda on the
subject of the incinerating plant, which von Nieda declared could be
abandoned because it did not burn garbage, but only rubbish.

"Can
you see me at 9:00 AM tomorrow and go through my department with me?"
asked Hanna.

"However,"
von Nieda continued, "we are wondering what the figures in the right
hand corner of the tax bill will be. Assessments may be lower and the tax
rate higher, and that does not give a true picture. I fear the bills will
be more for 1933 and for one am willing now to take the 1932 assessment on
my home.

"The
congress vigorously opposes this personality tax. You expect to tax the
homeowner for everything he has. I warn YOU gentlemen that if this tax is
imposed in Camden there will be a run on banks and building and loan
associations. If that happens homeowners and renters will leave this
unfortunate city. There will be a tax strike here, and so help me God, I'm
helping it!"

Hughes
reiterated demands of the union for increased relief payments to
unemployed, urged a municipally-owned lighting plant,
operated at a profit, the same as the city's water department; a municipal
lodging house; use of hand labor instead of machinery in all city
contracts and the employment of labor to "tear down the slums in
Camden."

Hartmann
was the next speaker. He read from a prepared statement which he declared
was an analysis a\of the city's 1932 lighting expenses, and which, he
said, could be lowered “had we used larger lamps.“

After
enumerating the individual costs of lamps of various candle power, and
contending a change in the lamps would effect a saving this year, Hartmann
charged the city has overpaid for electric energy in street
lighting.

Commissioner
Reesman declared that figures used by
Hartmann were in error and that
therefore, his computations as to possible savings were wrong. He
announced, however, he would study the situation to discover if there was
any error in the budget concerning street lighting, as alleged by Hartmann.

"The
Civic Congress is now circulating petitions for a referendum on a
municipal lighting plant," Hartmann said. "We now have 10,000 of
the required 11,000 signatures, and we do not intend to stop until we have
25,000. You commissioners can stop these petitions by adopting a
resolution declaring a referendum on the question."

He
then asked that the work of the city electrical inspector be taken over by
the National Board of Fire Underwriters,
and that "when the next tax sale is held, all properties be
advertised, including banks, garages and to whomever the property
belongs."

Commissioner
Bennett then arose and said: "I've used' discretion on that. There
are some who are paying as low as $5 per month, and I think these people
should be helped. We commissioners do not want to sell the home of anyone.
That is what we are trying to stop. We are in perfect agreement on
that."

Debt
Moratorium Asked

"How
about the Bridge Garage?" some one in the audience shouted.

"The
Bridge Garage has just paid $1500," Bennett said, "and promises
to pay something every month. We are trying to make the tax bills lower by
getting in all the monies we can,
and where possible to take in delinquent payments no matter how small.

Clarence
Moullette, secretary of the Unemployed Union of New Jersey, then arose. He
asked for a moratorium on the city debt service for five years, and urged
the commission to adopt such a resolution memorializing the Legislature
for that relief: He announced opposition to the personality tax.

"We
are not questioning the actions of the commissioners, Moullette said.
“Spending less money will not help the situation. Commissioner Hanna.
told me if he had $51,000 additional in his department six closed garbage
trucks could purchased. This will help give work. By cutting down salaries
you decrease purchasing power. Work must be had. Eventually you will pay
in

scrip. Why not pay in scrip now and give out work."

Hall
asked that Convention Hall be abandoned and the building used for
hospitalization work for the needy, and urged the city commission to
"meet in the evenings so that citizens will know and see what is
going on." He asked for abolition of the positions of plumbing,
building, sewer and heating inspectors.

'Close
High Schools'

"The
commission should face conditions as they are," he said. "I
speak for myself, and not the Civic Congress. I ask that the high schools
be closed. I heartily approve closing of the Vocational School, but if
choice was to be made between high schools and the Vocational School, I
would say close the high schools.
Before selling the home of anyone to meet impossible taxes, I say cut to
the bone by getting rid of everything that is not absolutely
necessary.

"You
commissioners must be made to realize that increased taxation is what has
destroyed purchasing power in America. Meet this condition!

Commissioner
Bennett challenged the statement of Hall that government costs were
responsible for conditions of today.

"There
are numerous causes," Bennett said.

"I
would rejoice in debating it with you or anyone you select," Hall
replied, "including United States senators, and convince them in 20
minutes."

"I’ll
debate that with him," shouted Morris Stempa of
Audubon from the audience. Stempa later addressed the commission,
speaking for the Socialist party, and urged the moratorium advocated by
Moullette, also a Socialist.

Eugene
Wasilewski, speaking for you the South Camden Civic Association, denounced
the commission for failing to call in civic association representatives in
their preparation of the Budget.

Bennett
Gives Reply

"You
called in the bankers, but not those others of us who also are interested
in city costs," Wasilewski said. "You tell us now there is a reduction in
assessments and then come along and wallop us with a higher tax rate. That
is not fair. You were elected to look after our interests and that you
have failed to do. You are making us eat red herring, and we want you to
eat red herring with us."

The
last citizen to address the commission was Salvadore Guadelli, president
of the Citizens-Taxpayers' League. He made a general indictment of
conditions, ,and asked that the city commission "do not let
sectionalism creep into city affairs."

Commissioner
Bennett then arose and addressed his fellow commissioners and the
audience.

"All
these things suggested here today have been considered," he said.
"We five men came into office with the idea of serving the people. I
know the business of financing the city is a. serious problem. We have
endeavored to move the budget into that realm of 'pay-as-you-go! We
appreciate everything presented here. Every taxpayer we look upon as an
employer.

"Looking
at it from every angle, this budget cannot be delayed any longer. You'll
find we were severe in preparing this budget; you'll find we were severe
last year. Last year we cut a half million. This year we cut $702,890.74,
and to that the board of education, we hope, will add a cut of $250,000.
That is a total cut of $952,890.74. Other cities in New Jersey show
nothing to compare with it.

Budget Adopted

"I
hesitate in making more cuts. I speak from experience when I say I'm a
taxpayer. In the past two weeks I've been trying to raise money to pay
taxes. I want all of you to know we commissioners can sympathize. It is
not easy being at the head of a government in times like these. I hope
that municipalities will receive federal relief in payment of debt
service. There has been a tremendous cut in our budget, including the
board of education figures. I feel the commissioners are to be commended
for the work they've done this year.

"If
we pass the budget we won't stop at that particular point, but will see
what else we can do all along the line. I feel the essential thing is to
pass the budget. I'm proud of the fact we came through 1932, and are
started in 1933 the same way, although I make no promise for the future. I
wish for a moratorium for interest on bonds. There are the bondholders on
one side and the taxpayers on the other, and the man out of work to be
considered.

We
are in sympathy with the man out of work. I say let the federal or
government put some money into to the interest rate. We must pass this
budget this afternoon. Do not delay longer. This is not an arbitrary 10
stand on my part. I make a motion the budget now be passed."

City
Clerk Frank S. Albright called the roll and all five commissioners voting
'unanimously. No demonstration followed passage
of the measure.

*Eugene
Wasilewski referred to in this story was Eugene Waleskiewicz, who was
later known as Eugene Wales.

Reinforce
that with what security you can give by resolution or ordinance, but
Disregard Chapter 60.

Use
a business rather than a political basis.

Take
an active Interest In the management of Camden County as well as Camden
city, acting as a committee of inquiry on county management.

These
are some of the points of advice given to the City Commission yesterday,
at a special meeting of the Commission, by its Citizens' Advisory
Committee.

In
trip-hammer style, James W.
Burnison, chairman of the advisory group, read a report that
followed with these recommendations:

Forget
politics and work as a unit.

Cut
expenses and stay within your budgets.

Prepare
a complete and honest budget.

Let
the taxpayers decide when an emergency exists that requires an addition
to the budget. Fight shy of gamblers' Interest rates.

Don't
default; it's too costly.

Get
on a cash basis and stay there.

Make
every taxpayer in the city realize and live up to his tax
responsibility.

Think
about Camden city and county in a patriotic rather than a political
sense.

Vote
to Act Quickly

The
commission voted to take quick action by passing a motion introduced by
Commissioner Harold W. Bennett, director of revenue and finance.

This
motion empowers Bennett to call, as quickly as possible, a meeting of
the commission, representatives of its advisory committee, the finance
committee of the board of freeholders, representatives of the city's
bonding attorneys, Hawkins, Delafield and Longfellow, representatives of
Lehman Brothers and other bond houses to determine what arrangement can
be effected to solve the city's financial problems. Setting forth that
it is not our intent or desire to criticize the performances of past or
present city officers, " the report nevertheless, contained
frank condemnation of emergency deficiency appropriations for items that
are and were left off budgets.

Hits
Past Budgets

It
contained
also implied condemnation
of all the city budgets
since 1930 and pointed out: "That Camden City receipts
have been
running behind expenditures approximately $1,000,000 a year since
1930."

"Our
yearly budgets do not at present, and did not in the past, in the opinion of your committee, give a frank
clear picture of anticipated income and expenditures.

“The
job of contacting bondholders to
procure interest reductions, "your 'committee finds, has not been handled as frankly as
it deserves. We can find no evidence of a sincere effort to layout a program and attack this problem logically. No
more than 30 cents can be lopped off the tax' rate if the contacting
program were completely successful. The committee has failed to receive a requested report of efforts to contact
bondholders.

The
committee was convinced that it is futile to expect any large-scale
interest cuts from bondholders.

Hopeful
of Rate Cut

It
believes the majority of high interest-bearing bonds can be refunded at
substantially lower interest rates
if constructive action is taken immediately. The committee has been
informed that the state has refused to accept "reasonable
rates" on the city's bonds held by the State.

Furthermore,
"the present difference of opinion on this subject among members of
our present city commission would in itself effectively block any real
work along this line, " and "We feel that real results along
this line require a united front on the part of our commission and the county freeholders." "Our
sinking fund, we are informed, is stuffed with our own frozen paper.
Such financing, in our estimation, kills the purpose of such
funds."

"The
present plan of singling out a
few wards in our city and call
for sporadic
tax sales is neither fair to the delinquent taxpayers in these wards nor
is it fair to the taxpayers throughout the city."

Has
Detail Report

After
concluding his reading of the summarized report, Burnison informed the
commissioners the committee has completed a detailed report of "40
to 42 pages of homework for you" and said that will be submitted
today.

"That
will contain detailed recommendations, including some errors in figures
and in judgment, but we ask that you disregard the errors and use the
good in it,"
Burnison said.

He
explained
that
when he mentioned
30 cents as the maximum figure to be lopped from the tax rate of the
city were completely successful in obtaining interest reductions, he
figured that would be the result if the city got 2% to 3 percent rates on all its bonds..

"There’s
a large number of these bonds you can't hope to refund at lower interest
rates, as the rates already are low. You couldn't get under 4 or 4%
percent on your first refunding under Chapter 77 and almost all of the
bonds not immediately refundable are around those figures, " he
said.

Commissioner
Bennett immediately opened up argument concerning what the committee
thinks will replace his favored refunding plan- Chapter 60 combined with
Chapter 77.

Tells
Objection to 60 Plan

"Sixty
seems to give the other fellow more advantages than us; that's our
objection to it,"
Burnison said.

"Apparently
you have been assured from some source that we can avoid an increase in
the tax rate without adopting Chapter 60," Bennett said and
continued:

"I
see no way of keeping down this year's budget without 60. Politics is
out in my argument, but I honestly believe 60 and 77 combined make the
only plan for us. Under the present plan the rate will go up this year.
Won't you tell us your source of assurance that it will not?"

Burnison
did not answer the question immediately and Bennett said: "We would
have to pass resolutions committing us to procedure similar to that
under Chapter 60, wouldn't we?"

"Yes,"
Burnison answered, "but not binding you to as close supervision.
You can't continue to exceed receipts and improve conditions
anyway."

(Melbourne
F. Middleton,
Jr., former city director of revenue and finance and
now a bond dealer interested in the city's refunding issues.)

"Lehman
Brothers (New York bankers who have handled many of the city's bonds in
the past and were interviewed last Friday by the advisory committee)
also said if we showed a sincere frank idea of economizing and staying
within our budget, the bondholders would accept our bonds without
necessity of recourse to Chapter 60.

"They
said 60 'meant no more to the
bondholder than resolutions and ordinances, if you get together and go on record to
give security and then do it.

"I
don't think the city commission should have any compunction in binding
itself not to exceed the budget. Then, if you find it is impossible for
you to operate on what you are taking in under the present tax rate,
call in a group of taxpayers say
200 of them-and explain the situation and raise the tax rate.

"Any
reasonable man or group will
see the necessity and logic of that. They will go along with you.

"But
under Chapter 60 you put yourself under a rigorous unbending set of
restrictions."

"Let's
quit arguing and do it," Commissioner Mary
W. Kobus suggested, and
Mayor Frederick von Nieda asked: "If we take an average of the
income for the past three years would you not consider that average for
this year?"

At
that point Bennett made his motion for power to call a special meeting
of the freeholders, commissioners, citizens' group, bond attorneys and
bond dealers, and it was passed unanimously after Commissioner George E.
Brunner seconded it.

"I
reserve the right own discretion about dealers will be asked” Bennett
remarked.

"It
may be that Lehman Brothers are the only ones who will trust us,"
Burnison said. "They know the lines we are working along. They work
with other houses, and there may be other sources of credit we can
tap."

"Well,
42 of the largest cities in New Jersey with 62 percent of all at the
ratables of the state are under Chapter 60 now," Bennett said.

"That's
what we have done," Bennett replied. "My department has done
that and that is why we are advocating 60.”

Burnison
Disagrees

"Well
there are members on our committee
who know a good bit about that sort of thing and they say the city is justified in not going
under 60," Burnison said.

"The
Legislature is going to pass a new budget law that will act just the
same as Chapter 60, though it will not be passed in time to effect this
year's budget," Bennett said.

"Well,"
said
Burnison, "I'd think the commission would prefer to adopt a
safe course voluntarily than to be forced into it."

"We
have no assurance that those who will have charge of the city's affairs
for the next 15 or 18 years will follow the course we lay down for
them," Bennett said and added: "Past political experience
shows that they won't."

This
brought the argument to a close and
Burnison, questioned by a reporter,
said:

"We
are not unalterably opposed to Chapter 60. We oppose it, yes. We believe
under 77 a better job for us can be worked out."